Streets to fly the flag for royal wedding

ORGANISERS of street parties across the Capital are getting ready for a right royal celebration to mark the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

With a little under two weeks until the big day, feverish preparations are taking place in nine streets where residents are busy with their plans to cordon off the area and hold a party with their neighbours.

That figure was recently added to after residents in Leith saw a story in the Evening News and were inspired to throw their own party.

Marlyn Blackley, who runs a bed and breakfast in Cambridge Gardens, said the street hosted a similar celebration when Princes Charles and Lady Diana Spencer married in 1982, and after a photograph of the party appeared in a recent edition of the News, they decided to throw another one.

"All the kids that were in that photo are now parents - my son was only five and now he has two kids," she said.

"We've already got bunting, balloons and flags for the kids. We'll also have a tug of war and pass the parcel."

While most parties will take place on April 29 - the day of the royal wedding - Cambridge Gardens residents will celebrate the following day.

All 20 houses that line the street have been invited to the celebration, which Mrs Blackley said was mainly being held as a way for the community to get together rather than a celebration of the wedding.

Across town in Morningside, a street party in Dalhousie Terrace is likely to be a much bigger affair, with 150 people expected.

George Calder, who was born in the street, said the area had a long history of street parties.

"We have a tradition in our street of having community events and had a number of street parties in the 80s and 90s including one for the Queen's Silver Jubilee," he said.

As well as ensuring there's enough bunting and hoping the rain stays away, Dalhousie Terrace residents will need to prepare costumes - the theme is red, white and blue - and people are also being encouraged to wear hats.

He added: "We've got a cake competition and quizzes. People are going to decorate their own bit of table and provide their own food and tea."

Other street parties will be held throughout the city from Balerno to Granton and Joppa.

There are also plans to host a republican demonstration on the Royal Mile.

On Facebook, organisers said: "In light of David Cameron's reassurances that people will be allowed to freely mark this special day, without regard for red tape, we want to embrace such reassurances to express our contempt for . . . the institution of the monarchy."